Leasing privately in TAS

Regarding what you need to do as a landlord and how to protect yourself if you wish to lease your property yourself in TAS.

Before Approving a Tenant

Ensure you have had a check done on the tenant (which you can arrange through us).

Ensure you have phoned/ checked all the tenants references (they will be asked to supply current employer, current landlord, and personal references on our tenancy application)

Ensure you have physically sighted proof of identification, proof of income, proof of address, and proof rental history (e.g. lease agreement, written reference, or tenant ledger)

Once you wish to approve a Tenant

Meet with them and sign a Residential tenancy agreement form. You can request a copy of this from us via email.

Complete a property condition report within 7 days of the start of the tenancy, keep one copy for yourself and supply two copies to the tenant. Where possibly, it can be helpful to complete this together with the tenant to minimize disagreements about what is noted. You can request this form from us via email.

All bonds must be paid to the Rental Deposit Authority (RDA). The bond must be deposited with the RDA within 3 days of collecting the bond. The Bond Lodgement form and bond can be lodged at any Service Tasmania shop, or via post.

During the Tenancy

Conduct routine inspections of the property (not more than once every 3 months)

Make sure to keep documentation of any occurrences, e.g. copies of any letters/receipts you send to tenant, photos of any damage etc. just in case there ever a dispute in future,

Other

We strongly recommend completing National Tenancy Database / TICA blacklist checks before approving any tenant (you can arrange this through PropertyNow). In addition to checking tenancy blacklists, you should also consider checking the ACCR criminal court attendance database here: https://auccr.com/free and may order full police background checks through PropertyNow if you wish

Most importantly, consider taking out Landlords Insurance – this covers you for theft, malicious damage, or loss of rent if the tenant stopping paying - http://www.canstar.com.au/home-insurance/what-is-landlord-insurance/
http://rac.com.au/insurance/home-insurance/landlords-insurance
There are many different providers so make sure to shop around.